Prepare yourself for a visit to incredible India with our travel resources that provide the lowdown on everything from money to visas, when to go and what to see, as well as detailed guides on visiting Kerala, the Golden Triangle and India's top tiger safari destinations.
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While the Taj Mahal is the jewel in India's crown, as you'll soon discover on our range of escorted tours and tailor-made holidays, there's far more to India than meets the eye.

As an India specialist, we've got plenty to satisfy your travel bug on our wide selection of tours to India featuring India's best places - learn about India's fascinating history, visit spectacular monuments and forts, see the tribute to love that is the majestic Taj Mahal, experience the hustle and bustle of iconic cities in Delhi - both old and new, and Mumbai, spot the elusive Bengal tiger in India's national parks, cruise along the backwaters of Kerala and witness the sunrise over the holy Ganges in Varanasi.

With diverse landscapes and ethnic groups, a rich history and delicious cuisine, India is an intoxicating cultural experience for any traveller and a real feast for the senses! India's history dates back thousands of years and having absorbed many an invasion - from the times of Alexander the Great to its more recent pre-independence days of the British Raj - you'll certainly feel the echo of India's past throughout the country.

The sites of India’s Golden Triangle - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - form the base of all our trips with each individual tour offering something unique from the desert towns of Rajasthan, friendly rural villages and holy rivers to breathtaking hill stations, lush backwaters and tropical beaches. Escorted by qualified English-speaking local guides, we include airport arrival and departure transfers, all of your transportation, and accommodation in locally-owned 3-4 star hotels and heritage properties where you will be sure to enjoy India's warm hospitality.
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Our average group size in India is 15–20 travellers and you'll be guided throughout by a local tour leader, subject to a minimum of 6 in the group. We kick off with a Namaste Welcome Dinner in Delhi, where you get to meet your travelling companions over a traditional Indian meal before you all head off on your adventures! What makes our guided group tours unique?

Time your visit with one of India's lively festivals and completely immerse yourself in the local celebrations. We have a selection of special itineraries that coincide with some of the country’s most popular festivals offering an authentic experience that is truly unique to India. Travel into the heart of the Thar Desert for the spectacular Pushkar Camel Fair, join us for colourful Holi festival – India’s most dazzling celebration, or watch fireworks fill the dark nights of Diwali - India’s favourite festival.
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Celebrate Diwali in India: While most festivals in India are local affairs, celebrated only in certain regions, Diwali truly unifies the country and is celebrated all over India as well as in Indian communities across the world. Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, which symbolises the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The myths and legends that surround the festival vary according to the part of India in which you find yourself, but what dominates proceedings is an affirmation of hope, a general sense of bonhomie and goodwill. There's loads of fireworks, sweets & presents are exchanged and traditional ‘diya’ lamps are lit in the evenings.

Enjoy a leisurely ride through colourful Rajasthan or a challenging ride through the Himalayan foothills, on one of our cycling holidays in India. Escorted by a local guide and riding for up to 60kms a day, these small group tours are ideal for fit and active leisure cyclists, who have a good sense of adventure. Sightsee and cycle on these exhilarating biking holidays, which take in famous landmarks such as the Taj Mahal and Amritsar's Golden Temple, cycling through stunning landscapes, with plenty of local interaction along the way.

Combining short but very special treks with plenty of cultural sightseeing, these active adventures in India are an ideal introduction to trekking holidays. Escorted by an English speaking guide, with a mix of camping and simple hotels. Enjoy a leisurely walk in Kerala's beautiful Cardamom Hills or embark on one of India's finest treks along Singalila Ridge on the border of India and Nepal.

If you're looking to get off the beaten track with the services of your own private guide, consider one of our unique private itineraries. Enjoy Kashmir from a houseboat, discover the fascinating culture of headhunting tribes in the north-east, ride in comfort on India's luxury trains, follow in the footsteps of Gandhi, or enjoy a Hollywood-inspired jaunt with our exclusive Best Exotic Marigold Tour. Should you wish to visit parts of India that we have not covered, we'll be happy to organise this for you too.

India is home to some of the finest national parks on the planet for spotting deer, leopard, langur, wild boar, rhino, elephant, buffalo and of course, the elusive Bengal tiger. Top picks include Ranthambhore, Kanha and Corbett, where there's a good chance of spotting tiger. There are very few places where this rare and enigmatic big cat can still be glimpsed in the wild and India has the highest density of tigers in the world. And for something unique, consider Kaziranga - home to the rare one-horned Indian rhino.
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Travel Operators for Tigers (TOFT): As members of TOFT, we pledge a USD$30 contribution to TOFT for every traveller that visits a tiger reserve in India with us. TOFT have set up a Practices Under Guidelines (PUG) certification recognising lodges that follow best practice and meet higher ecological and ethical standards. We support PUG graded lodges and will be happy to recommend ones based on their PUG gradings.

Our short stays in India are an easy way to add on a visit to that extra place or two which may not be included on your chosen group or private tour itinerary. You can also create your own itinerary by combining any number of our short stays into a longer holiday. We’re also happy to adapt these short stay packages to suit your needs, from upgrading your accommodation to adding more time to explore an interesting location - we’re here to tailor things to suit your travel requirements.

As geographically and culturally diverse as India is, there's no end to the available touring itineraries whether they're classic journeys or adventures off-the-beaten track. Design your own unique trip to India with the help of our expert tailor-made team. With years of experience, we're on hand to recommend top attractions, characterful hotels and memorable activities for the trip of a lifetime whether it's your first time in India or you're a returning traveller passionate about this incredible destination.

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India Day Tours and Excursions

Experience the best of what India's cities have to offer with our range of day tours in the Golden Triangle and beyond.

Frequently asked questions about our touring holidays in India

I want to see the Taj Mahal - do you include this on your tours?

Yes we do. We include this New World Wonder on all our India group tours that cover the north. You'll spend the afternoon on a guided tour of the Taj Mahal, learning all about why and how it was built. Our visit to Agra also includes guided touring of the Agra Fort.

I'm interested in seeing tigers in India - what options do you have?

India is the best place in the world to see tigers in the wild. There are a number of national parks and wildlife reserves that have been set up to protect the numbers of this endangered species. We have two group tours that include two nights in Ranthambhore National Park where you will go on morning and afternoon game drives in search of the stripey big cat. We also have private itineraries to other parks for tiger safaris. If you want to know more, head to our guide on tiger spotting in India.

Should I be worried about food hygiene in India?

Many people worry that they might get sick in India but if you stick to the standard rules of safely eating abroad there's no reason why you should suffer. Stick to busy restaurants, avoid street food or anything that's been sat outside for long and forgo salads as the water is definitely not safe to drink. Indian cuisine is amazingly diverse and forms an integral part of the travel experience so don't be afraid to try new dishes and flavours. Our Top Travel Tips page has more info on food and eating out in India.

I'm a second time visitor to India. What can you offer me?

If you've already covered India's popular Golden Triangle, consider visiting the tropical south. The state of Kerala offers sandy beaches, lush waterways and wildlife reserves, and is a great choice for second-time visitors. Our escorted Captivating Kerala tour covers the best of the region in a week-long itinerary. Alternatively, we have a range of exciting private itineraries that cover everywhere from the far northeast to the less-visited south. You can also create your dream tailor-made holiday with the aid of our expert team. Get in touch to start planning.

How big are your tour groups and what is the age of your travellers?

On shorter itineraries that cover the Golden Triangle and other highlights in India's north, the average group size is around 18 passengers. Once you start travelling further afield on longer tours then this average size drops down to around 8-10 passengers. Our special festival departures are much larger due to the unique nature of the events we cover such as Holi and Diwali. You'll find a real mix of ages on our India tours from those in their late 20s to those in their early 70s. The average age is between 45-50 years.

What is the standard of hotels on your trips?

On our India group tours you'll be staying in 3-4 star hotels with a mix of modern and heritage properties. On all tours that visit the main sights of Rajasthan you'll get to experience former royal residences and beautiful havelis transformed into tourist accommodation. It'll give you a real insight into the region's cultural and architectural heritage. While in Kerala you'll spend a night aboard a traditional houseboat - it's the perfect way to explore the backwaters.

What sort of transport do you use?

For the most part you'll be travelling in comfortable, private vehicles with air-conditioning. The size of the vehicle depends on the group size with either mid-size people carriers or larger coaches. There will also be the chance to experience more local forms of transportation including a rickshaw ride in Delhi and a houseboat ride in Kerala.

When is the best time to visit India for general sightseeing?

India is a big country and the climate varies dramatically from north to south though the dry season is by far the best time to visit. The months of October to February are ideal as rainfall is minimal in most parts of the country, which makes sightseeing much more pleasurable. For more info on the weather, have a read of our Best Time to Visit India page.

It is so hard to exactly say one highlight of our trip. Our guide Vansh was definitely a highlight he had so much knowledge of everywhere we visited. He also made sure we were always happy, comfortable and had everything we needed. The sites were just incredible. Visiting the school was such a humbling experience. The Havalis we stayed in were so beautiful. And the everyone we met along the way. Much love for the whole experience.”

Yusef was amazing! He was so very informed about all the tour sites and the in and outs of everyday living in India. He was always taking care of our needs and went above and beyond when someone was in need, be it medical needs or bargaining with the locals.”

The world’s largest continent is a geographically diverse and gorgeous place. From the...

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India Video

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FROM NORTHTO SOUTH

ALL THAT INCREDIBLE INDIA HAS TO OFFER

Discover the many sides of India, one of the world's most colourful countries, with our range of group tours that take in the best sights and experiences from the Golden Triangle in the north to the lush state of Kerala in the south with options to explore the beautiful forts and palaces of Rajasthan and the breathtaking hill stations of the Himalayas with the tea plantations of Darjeeling.

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India Map

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Highlights of our India tours

The Golden Triangle is India's most popular touring route and forms the basis of our India group tours but travel further afield and you'll find a staggering range of attractions. Here is a selection of some of these highlights:

Visit the 18th century Jantar Mantar, the impressive City Palace complex and the lofty Amber fort on a guided city tour with the option to take a hot air balloon ride over Jaipur for a bird's eye view.

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change or delay your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time.

On The Go's Signature group tours place local interaction and authenticity at the heart of your cultural travel experience. Upping the comfort stakes, this range is a clear cut above our Adventure range.

Appealing to a wide age demographic from the 20s to 60+, we maximize your days with excitement and awe and then bring you home to a comfortable 4* hotel with western amenities, air-conditioning, WiFi and, where appropriate, a swimming pool. Hotels can sometimes be of 3 or 5 star standard too, ensuring you get the best value for your holiday.

Visiting all the main attractions you’ll be accompanied throughout by our highly qualified English-speaking local guides too. Group size is typically 18 with a maximum for 28, apart from festival tours, where group sizes can be larger due to the one-off nature of these events.

Active

Trek, Cycle and Sightsee

Our Active range brings you thrilling trekking and cycling holidays to some of the world's most popular destinations. Whether it’s trekking to the Lost City of Petra in Jordan or cycling around the Angkor temples in Cambodia, you’ll get to explore more of your chosen destination than just the standard highlights, either by bike or on foot. There will still be lots of cultural experiences and even the occasional wildlife encounter along the way. You'll need a good level of fitness and an intrepid spirit.

Group sizes are small and average around eight travellers. The accommodation you’ll be staying in reflects the off-the-beaten track nature of these trips with simple hotels, wild & fixed camping, homestays and local guest houses for value and convenience.

Independent

Tailored To Suit You

On this range you won’t be joining other travellers, but will be on your own private itinerary. Accommodation, pace of travel and the style of trip is tailored to your individual needs. From pre-priced packages available off the shelf to fully curated tailor-made holidays, this range also includes our selection of one-night stopovers, day-tours and short breaks.

The Independent range gives you all the great service aspects of our Signature range with the flexibility to create a truly unique and bespoke holiday or adventure to a variety of destinations around the world.